Here is our list of the best interactive games for students.
Interactive games for students are fun activities and games in which students participate in groups. These games also offer a fun and hands-on learning experience. Examples include Charades, Four Corners, and Pictionary. The purpose of these activities is to help students absorb educational material and make them feel comfortable in school.
These ideas are similar to online classroom activities and team building exercises. Two examples of these activities are vocabulary games and communication games.
This list includes:
- interactive games for college students
- interactive games for kids
- interactive games for high school students
- online interactive games for students
- interactive classroom games
- interactive quiz games for students
Here we go!
List of interactive games for students
Interactive games for students are necessary for schools because they provide a new learning experience while giving a break to the students from the mundane school routine. These games also develop skills and competencies in children. To help you engage students in the classroom, here is our list of the best interactive classroom games for students.
1. Hangman
Hangman is a fun and interactive game for students, which you can play in the classroom or online. When playing in the classroom, you will need an interactive display or a whiteboard. When playing online, you can use a virtual whiteboard app.
Every student participates and takes turns guessing while the teacher draws on the board.
The rules of the game are simple. The teacher will think of a word and draw blanks according to the number of letters. For example, if the word has six letters, then you draw six blanks. To make the game easy, you can also tell about the category, like if it is the name of a singer, a movie, or a famous place.
The students will think of some letters, and for every wrong letter, the teacher will draw a portion of the hangman. When the drawing is complete, the game is lost. However, if players guess the correct letters, then they save the hangman.
2. 10 Questions
10 Questions is one of the best interactive games for college students because it uses collective critical thinking.
In this game, you will divide the class into two groups. One group will think of an item. Then, the other group will prepare ten questions to ask to guess the object. Since the group has a limited number of questions, they must choose strategically.
You can set a rule that every group member will ask one question. The group can decide on the questions, and their answer will be either yes or no. The groups cannot ask for explanations or details.
After getting all the answers, the other group will think of an object and give their guess. The group will get a point if they make the right guess.
This game highlights the importance of group discussion and indicates how the groups must analyze the information and develop a unified answer.
Check out more question games.
3. 101 And Out
101 And Out is a fun game that will test your students’ math skills. This game is also easy to play, which makes it among the best interactive games for kids.
Here is how to play:
- Divide the class into two groups.
- Give a die to each group.
- Each group gets two dice rolls.
- With each dice roll, they can either keep the exact number or multiply it. So, for example, if one group gets a five on a dice roll, they can keep the same number or multiply it and keep 25.
- The groups will keep adding numbers with each dice roll.
- The goal is to reach 101 or close to it to win the game.
If you are playing this game with children, then you can set easy rules and ask them to add the numbers only and eliminate the multiplying rule.
4. Don’t Answer
Don’t Answer is a fun and engaging game that will check how well your students know each other.
In this game, you will make the class sit in a group. It is better to make good friends sit with each other because it will make the game easier.
Each student will randomly pick another student from the crowd and ask a question.
For instance:
- What is the name of your favorite superhero?
- Which is your favorite dish?
- When was the last time you got scolded?
- When is your birthday?
- How many siblings do you have?
However, this game has a twist. The addressed student cannot directly answer. The asked-about student cannot speak and can tell the other players whether an answer is right or wrong by a thumbs up or thumbs down. If the initial response is wrong, then they can ask follow-up questions to get the correct answer.
5. Trivia
Trivia can be a great choice if you are looking for interactive quiz games for students. These challenges can disguise learning as a fun and spirited competition. Facing off in feats of knowledge can bring lessons alive and help students better retain information.
To make this game interactive, you can divide the class into groups. Then, when children discuss the answers in groups and decide mutually, it will strengthen their bond and friendship.
The best idea is to tell the kids about the trivia beforehand. Then, when they give the correct answers after coming fully prepared, it will boost their confidence and morale as well.
Here is a list of starter trivia questions and a guide to team Jeopardy.
6. Simon Says
Simon Says is a fun game that will get groups laughing. The fact that you play it both in-person and online makes it among the best online interactive games for students.
This game also builds a friendly relationship between the teacher and students.
How to play:
- Make all the students stand while keeping a distance between them.
- When everyone is ready, the teacher will say a sentence.
- The rule is that if the sentence starts with “Simon says,” the students must do it. If it does not begin with “Simon says,” then the students will not act. For example, the teacher will say, “Simon says, jump on both feet,” In this case, the children will jump.
To make the game more challenging, rattle off commands quickly. Rapidfire instructions will test and sharpen students’ focus. You will be surprised at how the students will act without listening for the particular phrase.
7. Charades
Charades is an interactive game you can play at any event. In this game, you will divide the class into two groups.
Each group will decide on a word for another group. Then, one member from the other group will come to act that word for their team. However, the member who acts cannot speak the word.
The team members will keep guessing until they reach the correct answer.
You can also set a time limit to make the game enjoyable. You can also make it more fun by asking the students to do activities specific to the classroom. For example, you can ask them to act like their favorite teacher.
8. Blindfold Conversation
Blindfold Conversation is an engaging game that will make your students interact and collaborate during the activity.
In this game, you will make your class stand in a circle. Then, one student will come to the center, and you will blindfold them. Next, a few students will make the blindfolded child spin in a circle. When stopped, he will point to one student. That student will speak in a funny voice, and the blindfolded student will guess their name.
9. Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled Eggs is the best game for a large classroom. The more participants you have, the more fun this game will be.
In this game, you will choose one student and make them leave the classroom or blindfold them. Then, you will pick one student to hide. You can hide them under the chair or make them leave the class to be out of sight. Then, all the other students in the class will change their places.
Then, the blindfolded student will enter the class and guess which student is missing.
This game boosts students’ powers of observation, which can come in handy while studying.
10. Pictionary
Pictionary has been the favorite game of children and adults alike. Pictionary can be a great choice if you are looking for some interactive games for high school students.
This game involves drawing a picture on the board without speaking the word. One student will come to the board and draw the image of the word given. Then, the whole class will participate in guessing the picture.
You can also play Pictionary online if you have online classes. The online version offers the same level of fun as the in-person version of this game. You can play online Pictionary on Drawize or conduct a Zoom meeting and use the digital whiteboard.
Learn more about Drawize.
11. Geography Puzzles
Geography puzzles are a great idea to make the geography class fun and engaging for students. Children often get bored in such classes. You can bring a twist with a class activity.
To do a geography puzzle, first, divide the class into groups. Then, you will give blank maps to each group. Finally, ask the class to fill out the maps and write the names of the countries.
You can also make it specific and include the topics in the puzzle taught in the class.
12. Ad Making
Making an advertisement is a unique and creative activity that students will enjoy. As this activity requires critical and creative thinking, it best suits high schoolers and teenagers.
First, give a product to your students. For example, soap, pencil, or notebook. It is better to hand out familiar, everyday objects to make the activity easy.
Then, ask the students to make an advertisement in groups to sell the product. The students can take inspiration from the ads they watch on television. Then, the students will perform in the class, and the team with the most creative idea will win.
13. Minute To Win It
Minute To Win It is a beloved game show. This exercise consists of different activities and games that participants will only have one minute to complete. The player who gets the most points in one minute will win the round. The best part about this game is that multiple players can participate, making it ideal for the classroom.
It is better to have the theme and decor of the original game show to improve the competitive skills of the students. Some examples of activities are:
- Stack plastic cups on each other without making them fall.
- Get a biscuit from your head into your mouth without using your hands.
- Keep three balloons in the air.
- Using a straw, such up skittles from one plate and transfer them to another.
- Throw ping pong balls into a basket from a distance.
These activities will make the students focus, and due to the limited time, they will try their best to be as quick as possible. The best part of this activity is that you can play multiple games, as each challenge takes under a minute.
Check out more Minute to Win It games.
14. Invent A Solution
Inventing a solution requires critical thinking, as students will work together in groups to fix a problem.
In this game, you will give an imaginary scenario to your students. For example, an alien spaceship has attacked the world, and the aliens want to invade your hometown. How will you make a deal with them or kick them out?
You can also use examples from everyday life, like giving a scenario of your friend who is in trouble and you have to save them.
Then, the students will get five minutes to discuss the answer in the group. Once done, one student from each group will come on the stage and explain their solution to the class.
Check out more problem-solving activities.
15. GoNoodle
GoNoodle is the favorite online platform of teachers. This website contains many fun games and interactive activities that help students participate and boost their confidence. If you are looking for some online interactive games for students, then GoNoodle can be the right platform.
The website gives you different categories of games to choose from. You can play games according to specific subjects and topics and do activities like stretching in video sessions.
Learn more about GoNoodle.
16. Debate Competition
A debate competition is among the best interactive games for high school students. Such competitions and activities improve students’ critical thinking skills, boost their confidence, and improve their communication skills.
To ensure interaction, you can divide the class into two groups and give an argumentative topic for discussion. One group will focus on the cons, and the other will highlight the pros. For example, you can provide globalization as the topic for discussion and ask the class to have speeches and arguments on it.
17. Four Corners
Four Corners is among the best interactive classroom games. This challenge involves four groups of students. You will also blindfold one student.
The rest of the students will run to four corners of the room. The blindfolded student will point to one corner, and students at the other corners will be out of the game.
Then, the remaining four students will run to the four corners again. Finally, the blindfolded child will again point to one corner, and the student there will win.
This game is easy to play, takes limited time, and only has one winner in each round.
Conclusion
Interactive games for students are necessary to boost their focus on their studies and keep them active in class. These games also build trust and friendly relationships as students play in groups to win.
Our list of interactive games for students includes in-person and virtual games that can keep students engaged and boost their confidence. For best results, match activities to the subject and your class’ age group, learning styles, and personalities.
For more fun with students, check out virtual field trips and family day activities.
Grace He